Utica City Clerk Catherine McGrail was popular, efficient and known for her cheerful smile.

That, she said, was the only way to treat taxpayers.“I enjoyed every minute of my job,” said McGrail who, along with her husband, Bill, a longtime area attorney, decided earlier this month to retire.

Beth Rickets was appointed by the Utiac City Council to replace McGrail.

The clerk’s job is an appointed position. It pays $76,000 annually and the clerk serves at the will of City Council.

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McGrail was a stay at home mom for 12 years before going to work for a computer programming company. She was raised in northwest Detroit and attended Precious Blood Catholic Grade School and Immaculatta High School in Detroit.

She went on to the University of Detroit where she met her husband, an attorney for 41 years. Bill was raised in Dearborn Heights and graduated from Sacred Heart High School. He got his undergraduate and law degrees from U-D.

McGrail and her husband moved to Utica in 1976 where they built a house. Bill was assistant city attorney and Catherine was appointed city clerk in 1984.

“Some 28 years and 10 months ago I came to work for the taxpayers,” McGrail said. “The rest is history.”

McGrail said back “in the day” most everything was done by paper and pencil. She said there were very few computers around and the only one in City Hall was used in the finance department and for checks and water billing.

She said when she first assumed the duties as clerk, her staff was a little larger than it is now. One of her most important jobs was to run elections, which she says she did without any problems because of talented and conscientious employees.

In all of the elections she oversaw, only two unsuccessful candidates in the past asked and received a recount.

“That’s pretty good, don’t you think?” she said. “I’ll take our residents in Utica over residents anywhere in the state.

“Our residents are super. They are respectful and if they have any questions they will come into the office where they are always welcome, call or stop you at the supermarket.”

The McGrails have a son, Jim, and daughter, Linda. They have 5 grandchildren.